Steering-pole.



F. W. CARPENTER.

STEERING POLE.- APPLlcATloN man Nov. la. 1915.

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` Patented Aug. 14,1917.

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FRANCIS W. CARPENTER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

STEERING-POLE.

Application led November 18, 1915.

\ ing to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an extremely simple and highly efficient steering pole, and to such ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Steering poles of this character are adapted for a good many different uses, and are especially adapted for application as the pole of a threshing machine or separator, which pole is to bef connected to a tractor by means of which the separator is drawn. In a connection of this kind, the steering device is required to prevent the separator from cutting across the chord of the arc turned by the tractor, or in other words, to cause the separator to follow approximately the same curved course that was taken by the tractor.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view with some parts broken away and some parts sectioned, showing the improved steering pole;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, some parts being broken away and some parts being sectioned;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line x3 m3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. it is a detail in plan showing a chain wheel.

The numeral 1 indicates a bar usually designed as the cross bar of the pole and which is usually hinged to the front axle, not shown, by means of cooperating l-bolts. The intermediate portion of this cross bar is reinforced by detachable metal bars 2 that are preferably channel-shaped in cross section and arranged, one with flanges turned upward and the other with flanges turned downward and embracing the bar 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917..

Serial No. 62,136.

The pole, as preferably constructed, is made up of upper and lower metal straps 3 that are spaced apart vertically by front and rear wooden members 4c and 5, the said parts being rigidly connected by nut-equipped bolts 6. The wooden members 4 and 5 are spaced apart to form a gap that is adapted to receive a chain wheel S, worm wheel 9 and worm 10. The said chain wheel 8 and worm wheel 9 are preferably cast integral and journaled on an eccentric l1 that has eccentric upper and lower threaded trunnions passed through seats in the upper and lower pole straps 3 and equipped with clamping nuts l2 by means of which the said eccentric may be secured in different set position. The upper end of the upper trunnion of the eccentric 11 is preferably formed with a slit 11a, so that when the nuts 1 are loosened, it may be easily rotated or adjusted by the application of a screw driver or other suitable device. The said parts S, 9 and 10, at the sides, are inclosed by flanged castings 13 that span the gap in which the said parts are mounted, and are rigidly secured to the wooden members 1 and 5 of the pole, by horizontal nut -equipped bolts 111. rIhe worm 10 meshes with a worm gear 9 and is secured on a horizontal shaft 15 that is journaled in and projects through the castings 13, and at its ends, is provided with operating cranks 16 shown as set, the one 180 degrees ahead of the other.

A steering chain 17, which, as shown, is of the log chain type, runs over the chain wheel 8, and here it should be noted that the said chain wheel is formed with sprocket-like teeth that engage the alternate links of the said chain and thereby prevent slipping of the said chain on the said wheel. The said chain is brought back from the sprocket on rearwardly diverging lines, and the rear ends thereof, are attached to I-bolts 18 that are passed through the cross bar 1 and are provided with nuts 19, by means of which the said chain may be adjusted and always kept taut, so that there will be no slack therein.

To maintain a constant tension in the chain 17 throughout the steering movements, channel-shaped chain guiding segments 2O are rigidly secured at their rear ends, by means of nut-equipped bolts 2l that are passed through the same and through the cross bar 1 and upper and lower bars 2. The front ends of the said segments 20 are further braced by tie straps 22 bolted thereto and to the bars l and 2.

With the above described connections,` it is evident that the angle of the pole in respcct to the front axle may be varied at will by rotation of the worm 1 0, andthat such rotation of the worm may be easily produced by taking hold of one or the other of the operating cranks 16.

Under normal or ordinary conditions, it will be desirable to have the pole looked in respect to the front axle at a right angle thereto. To insure this position of the pole, a lock pin 23 is passed through perforations in the upper and lower pole straps 3 and through a perforation in the combined wheel 89.

To compensate for wear between the worm wheel 9 and worm gear 10, the one should be moved toward the other; and this may be easily accomplished by proper adjustments of the eccentric l1. VThis adjustment makes it desirable to elongate certain of the slots through which the lock pin 23 is passed; and, as shown, the pin passage 24 in the wheel 8 9 is radially elongated, see F ig. 4C. i Here it may be noted that the chain guiding segments 20 are concentric to the axis of the pivotal connection 25 between the pole and cross bar 2. The space between the ends of these segments affords ample clearance for the swinging movements of the pole in respect to the front axle. The worm, of course, will hold the worm wheel and chain ,wheel locked in any position in which they may be set, and as the chain 17 is always taut, there will be no slip or play between the pole and front axle in any of the adjustments thereof. Nevertheless,V the independent lock afforded by the pin 23 is desirable, not only because it affords an additional lock under normal conditions, but because it alfords means for insuring accurate setting of the pole at a right angle to the front axle. Otherwise stated, whenever the lock pin 23 is inserted, it is a known fact. that the pole is at a right angle to the front'axle, because the said pin cannot be inserted in any other position of the pole, or at any rate, cannot be thus inserted in any position in whichlthe pole anywhere near approximates a right angle to the front axle.

IVhat I claim is: j

l. In a steering pole structure, the coinbination with a cross bar, ofa pole pivoted thereto, laterally spaced chain guiding segments secured to said cross bar on opposite sides of the pivotal connection between the same and` said pole, a chainwheel` journaled to the pole, a. chain passed over said wheel and having' its ends passed over said guiding segments, and anchored in" respect thereto, and means for rotating said wheel, to thereby impart angular movements of said pole in respeotto the saidcross bar.

2. In a steering pole structure, the combinationwith a crossbar reinforcenlent and a pole pivoted thereto, of laterally spaced chain guiding segments secured tosaid reinforcement, on opposite sides of the pivotal connection between the same and` said pole, a chain drivingwheel journaled to said pole, a chain passed vover said wheel and having its ends passedy over said guiding segments and anchored` inrespect thereto, self-locking means for rotating said chain driving wheel, to thereby impart angular-movement to the polein respect to said cross bar reinforcement. Y

In testimony whereof, I- a'ftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY D. KILeoR-n, F. D. MERCHANT.

Copies of this patent may b. obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.` 

